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Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) Species from the Greater Mekong Subregion

Summary

This research examined the diversity and distribution of Ganoderma mushrooms across Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong region. Ganoderma species are important both as plant pathogens and traditional medicines. The study documented 22 different species, including two previously unknown to science, and provided detailed information about where these fungi can be found and how to identify them. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps identify potentially harmful fungi that can damage trees and crops • Provides information for harvesting medicinal mushrooms used in traditional medicine • Advances understanding of biodiversity in an important ecological region • Supports conservation efforts by documenting species distributions • Aids in quality control for medicinal mushroom products

Background

The cosmopolitan fungal genus Ganoderma is an important pathogen on arboreal plant hosts, particularly in tropical and temperate regions. It has long been used as traditional medicine due to its medicinal properties and chemical constituents. The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is a biodiversity hotspot with rich fungal diversity, yet knowledge of Ganoderma species distribution and taxonomy in this region remains poorly understood.

Objective

This study aimed to document and analyze Ganoderma collections made in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), encompassing tropical parts of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and temperate areas in Yunnan Province, China. The research sought to clarify species identification, distribution, and taxonomy through comprehensive morphological descriptions and phylogenetic analysis.

Results

The study reports 22 Ganoderma species from the GMS: G. adspersum, G. applanatum, G. australe, G. calidophilum, G. ellipsoideum, G. flexipes, G. gibbosum, G. heohnelianum, G. hochiminhense, G. leucocontextum, G. lucidum, G. multiplicatum, G. multipileum, G. myanmarense, G. orbiforme, G. philippii, G. resinaceum, G. sichuanense, G. sinense, G. subresinosum, G. williamsianum, and G. tsugae. Of these, 12 species were from Yunnan Province, China; three from Laos; three species including two new records and one new species from Myanmar; 15 species and four new records from Thailand; and one new species from Vietnam.

Conclusion

This comprehensive study significantly advances the understanding of Ganoderma diversity and distribution in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The research documents high intraspecies morphological variability between specimens from different areas, highlighting the importance of combining both morphological and molecular approaches for accurate species identification. Two new species (G. myanmarense and G. hochiminhense) and several new distribution records were established.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Survey,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof7100819
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